1) An Industry Visit to NIPHT's Horticulture Training Centre at Talegaon, Pune-Mumbai Road & Talegaon Floriculture Park of MIDC on 6th August 2009
The students of MBA Agri Business [2009-11] batch were taken to NIPHT's Horticulture Training Centre at Talegaon. Pune-Mumbai Road. We were welcomed by the officials of the Horticulture Training Centre and after the initial introduction to the training centre, were addressed by Dr Suresh Dhumal, the Director of HTC. He explained to the students the role and different activities of the Centre as well as present Horticulture scenario and the changing trends in the technology adoption by farmers.
The post tea session was totally a field visit to different types of poly houses, in which exportable products like Roses, Carnations, Gerberas, Orchids, Anthurium capsicum etc were grown. The concerned faculties /instructors explained in detail the Greenhouse technology, cultivation practices and the economics of the fruits and vegetables grown under controlled atmosphere. The field round was also followed by a question and answer session.
After lunch the students visited the Flori-Park MIDC Talegaon, which is facilitated by the State Industrial Corporation, [MIDC]. This is a cluster of floriculture Units, run by individual entrepreneurs, who at times cooperate in raw material procurement or in achieving economy of scale for export. The plots for them have been allotted on lease by the MIDC. The basic facilities such as the electricity, water internal roads, are provided by the Corporation. The govt. proposes to make available Cold storages, Transport, common grading/ sorting facility etc in the near future. This is a best and only successful floripark in India.
Col. H. S. Walia who himself is a flower grower and exporter, briefed the students about the market potential in different countries, the export formalities, APEADA's role, Documentation, subsidies, Export credit etc. The students could also observe the Cold storages from inside and study the packing methodology for export purposes. Mr Jhamb the manager of the MIDC office was kind enough to answer all the queries of the students and also explain the MIDC's specific role. The visit was a very fruitful exercise for the students.
2) Jr.MBA-Agribusiness students visited Horticulture Training center, Government of Maharashtra, Talegaon on 29 July 2011
3) Sr.MBA-Agribusiness students visited following institute/bio plant on 5-8-2011
a) Vasntdada Sugar Institute Manjri Farm,Pune
b) Kumar Bio plants ltd.,Hadpsar
c) National Research Center for Grapes , ICAR,Manjri
1) INDUSTRY VISIT TO HTC TALEGAON Date of Visit --- 29-7-11 MBA-AB ( 2011-13)
Visit to Horticultural Training Center, GoM. Talegaon The Industry visit was organized for the First year students of MBA-AB on 29-7-2011.Out of 54 students, two students were absent (No.10& 51) The studentsvisited the state-of –the -art Infrastructure producing different types of the flower. The students Interacted with faculty of HTC on different aspects of Flower production for commercial purpose. Afternoon the students visited TFiori a commercial Floriculture park of Col. Walia in MIDC area. He explained all the practical aspect like establishment of Greenhouse Floriculture with different types of systems of Labor management, timely management of plantation, Drip irrigation ,Fertigation, Harvesting ,packaging techniques for export and local market, Market opportunities etc. The student also visited the Mr. Naik’s private nursery .The commercial andornamental plants are sold to all most all the big firms and Industry. This is biggest nursery in the market, who does not do any marketing of their products.
II)INDUSTRY VISIT REPORT MBA-AB-(2010-12) Date of VISIT 5-8-2011
III)Brief Report on Industry visit on 5-3-12
The Industry visit was organized on 5-3-12 for MBA-AB students ( (2011-13) to visit the Agrotourism, center, Farm Science center( KrihiVigyankendra,) Sugar factory, Jaggery making unit and Emmu farming in Malegaon village near Baramati. The Agrotourism Center in charge welcome the students by traditional way by applying the kumkumand garlanding them. .The concept of Agrotourism.was explained by the supervisors giving the data of its financial workings.Agri-Tourism is the practice of attracting travelers or visitors to areas used primarily for agricultural purposes. Agricultural Tourism is the Holidays concept of Visiting a working farm or any agricultural, horticultural, or agribusiness operations for the purpose of enjoyment, education, or active involvement in the activities of the farm or operation. Agri Tourism activities includes farm tours; tractor and bullock cart rides; grapes, mangoes, and other horticulture farms and by - product farms; birds and animal farms; The students were taken to visit Rearing of worm for sericulture, Processing of production of silk, Food processing unit, Nursery of different fruits and vegetables, Banana plantation, Grape cultivation, Dairy farm, Sheep and goat rearing farm, Israel Model dairy unit, Coconut plantation ,Amala plantation, Tamarind cultivation, Chiku plantation, Guava cultivation, Tractor rides to all the students. After lunch students visited the Jaggary making unit and Malegaon Sugar Factory. The Process of Jaggerymaking and sugar making was explained. The students visited to KrishiVigyan Kendra(FARM SCIENCE CENTER).The aim of KrishiVigyan Kendra is to reduce the time lag between Generation of technology at the research institutions and it's transfer to the farmer's field for increasing production, and productivity. The Director, of the KVK Dr.T.A.Kadarbhai, explained how this particular KVK is self-sustained with minimum funding support. She explained all the activities of the center. The students were taken around the Centre and explained different functions and activities meant for the needy farmers around the area. On our return journey we visited the Emu farm where the students were explained about the opportunities and constraints in expanding this business on commercial lines. Overall the industry visit was appreciated by the majority of the studentsas it imparted valuable information and field exposure to many of them.
(Suresh Bhosale) ( Dr N. S. Ingale)
INDI FLORA TRAINS SIIB AGRI BUSINESS STUDENTS AS QUALITY ASSURANCE OFFICERS
Students from SIIB Agri Business 2011-13 batch were selected to work as Quality Assurance Officers at world reputed floriculture farms by the UK based Indian Firm ; Indi flora. From 2-2-12 to 10 -2-12 Indi flora specializes in the export and merchandising of flowers (majorly roses, gerbera & carnations) to the elite floriculture markets across the globe. The export destinations include UK, Saudi Arabia, AALSMEER auction ( Holland ), Mexico , etc. The company strives to promote Indian flowers worldwide. The students were selected and then trained on the basics of floriculture industry, trends in the market, demand analysis, project management and the financial evaluation of the project, techno feasibility study , etc. On the basis of this two days extensive training at Horticulture Training Center (Talegaon ), six students were selected and the placed at various export graded farms in and around Pune. The farms included Star Farms, Essar Ruia’ Agrotech at Ambyvalley & HTC ( Talegaon). This was an extensive hands on experience.
The Bhimthadi Jatra is an annual event organized by Agriculture Development Trust, Baramati which was established on 22nd June 1971 by Honorary founder Director Mr. Sharad Pawar. This is held in Pune every year to advertise and sell goods produced by women. It is a platform for the large scale sale of handlooms, handicrafts, packaged food items and authentic Maharashtrian food made by women. SHGs from all over the country participated in this evet this year, especially Bhimthadi 2013 was declared to be a National event. Renowned personalities and experts are invited to guide women participants on sales, packaging, and product quality and women power.
Mission
· Social and financial empowerment of women
· Strive to create a link and network of all women entrepreneurs and help in creating a market for them
· Enable women to get acquainted with business arena
· Develop an active platform for traditional and cultural upliftment
Vision
To empower women socio-economically and enrich them on leadership skills so as to enable them to flourish in the business arena by way of providing them with a platform to interact with their prospective clientele and thus ensuring a substantial contribution in the financial growth of the country.
BHIMTHADI JATRA 2013
The Bhimthadi Jatra for the year 2013 began on 24th January as a shopping cum eating fiesta. There were over 500 stalls selling food products, handlooms and other products made by SHGs. The fair also showcased cultural mela with folk dances, music and traditional dance arts.
Star highlights of Bhimthadi Jatra 2013 are
· National event with stalls from all over the country
· Open for women entrepreneurs for the first time ever
· Special hanger for organic products
· Spreading awareness about garbage and waste
· Use and purchase of plastic was discouraged making it a “No plastic Zone”
Student teams were made giving them an opportunity to learn and work with selling and managing stalls arranged by NGOs or SHG. Some of the stalls:
· Karvir krishi udyog Ltd – It was a masala papad and chips stall put up by a self help group from Kolhapur. This SHG comprised of 10 members. Most of their financing was through government subsidies which they revealed was easily available to them because of their political contacts.
· Anand van - This was Baba Amti’s trust for helping the leprosy patients. They manufactured cotton and khadi handlooms. Their source of finance was majorly donor funding
· Sangeeta , women entrepreneur who owned a masala, papad stall hailing from Baramati. She had 150 women working under her who herself provides training to them.
· Mahalaxmi shawls and sweaters: held by two women entrepreneurs hailing from outskirts of Pune.
Bhimthadi is a very good platform to bring these women together and help share their experiences. From the perspective of microfinance, Bhimthadi is an ideal place to financially include the poor by making them financially literate and making them realize the importance of unity and mutual trust helping them from their own SHGs and helping them develop.
AB2012-14 students were taken to KisanMela exhibition on 14th Dec, 2012 (12-16 Dec 2012)
The KISAN Fair is organized with an objective to create a single FORUM for the Indian Agri-community. It is the only forum of its kind where government officials, policy makers, like-minded organizations and media from all parts of India come together to have a dialogue with the farmers.
It is the 20th event in the successful KISAN Series, Brings Decision Makers and Opinion Leaders in Agriculture on a common platform. KISAN Series is striving to bring every farmer face to face with the advanced technologies & innovations in the agriculture.